Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region
Tags: physical sciences, active layer, permafrost, climate change, thaw depth
| Principal Investigator: | Nixon, Mark (15) |
| Licence Number: | 13325 |
| Organization: | Geological Survey of Canada |
| Licensed Year(s): |
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| Issued: | Jun 17, 2002 |
| Project Team: | Caroline D |
Objective(s): One feature of permafrost that has responded significantly to past climate change is thickness of the active layer. The active layer, overlying permafrost, is earth material that thaws from the surface and refreezes each year. It forms the interface between permafrost and the atmosphere and biosphere, including many human activities. Active layer thickness influences vegetation and soil conditions, thereby influencing hunting, gathering, forestry and agriculture. Thickness, texture and moisture content of the active layer affects foundation conditions for transportation and construction. Changes in the active layer and thaw penetration can contribute to slope instability with impacts on transportation facilities and other structures. It is important to understand how the active layer varies locally and regionally and how it will respond to environmental change, including but not restricted to climate change.
